The Strand Study Bible

LUKE LUKE 7:21 Gene Edwards, in his book called The Prisoner in the Third Cell , noted why many were healed in Jesus’ day… but not all. 1 There are seven reasons why some who sought healing from Jesus, were not healed and/or delivered: 1. Sometimes (due to the way He was regarded) Jesus would leave an area before others (who needed healing) would arrive (Jn 6:15) It’s important to note that Jesus’ primary purpose for coming was to heal people spiritually (Lk 19:10). Physical healings were secondary and were of no use when it came to eternal matters (Mk 9:43-48). 2. Sometimes (due to the fact that Jesus needed to get to another area) Christ would send the multitudes away, and many who came to Him for healing would fail to receive that healing (Mt 8:14-18 & 15:39) 3. Sometimes (due to the fact that Jesus was physically exhausted) Jesus would send the multitudes away, and many who came to Him for healing would fail to receive that healing (Mt 8:23-24 and Mk 4:35-41) 4. Sometimes (due to the great multitudes) some people just couldn’t get to Jesus in order to be healed (Mt 9:18-22,27 & 12:15) While it is true, everyone who could get to Jesus was healed, it is also true that not everyone could get to Him for one reason or another and therefore did not receive the healing they so desperately desired (Mt 14:34-36 & 15:29-31). 5. Sometimes (due to the faithlessness of others) Jesus would end up leaving a place before others could receive healing (Mt 13:53-58) 6. Sometimes (due to the fact that Jesus just needed to get away and pray) Jesus would send the multitudes away, and many who came to Him for healing would fail to receive that healing (Mt 14:22-23) 7. Lastly, sometimes (due to heartbreaking news - like the death of John the Baptist) Jesus would stop what He was doing and eventually send the multitudes away, thus healing many, but not all… NOTE - Miraculously birthed, John the Baptist was called to be a Nazarite (Num 6:1-9), a prophet separated unto God for a lifetime. He was called to announce the coming of the PROMISED ONE , allowed to witness the SPIRIT OF GOD as He fell upon Jesus in dove form, and allowed to hear the Heavenly FATHER’S voice from Heaven when baptizing Jesus. Yet, because John found Jesus in prison (and about to be beheaded), he began to question Jesus’ identity. Why? The “why” is answered in verse 23 ( And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me ). In essence, what our Lord was saying to John was, “I know you sacrificed an entire lifetime for Me, and now you find yourself awaiting martyrdom in jail. However, faith in my Word, not in my ways, John, is what matters to Me. You either get to know Me by faith or you do not get to know Me at all.” The question is not, “Why is this happening to me?” or “Why doesn’t God answer me?” or “Why doesn’t God come to my rescue?” The question is, “Will you follow a God whose ways you do not understand? Will you follow a God who fails to live up to your expectations at times?” Our problem as Christians is that we are far more interested in God’s ways than we are in God’s Word . Jesus said we would suffer (Mt 5:10-12 and Jn 16:33), as did Paul (II Tim 3:12). So why are we so surprised when we do? 7:23 According to the Bible, the “blessings” ( blessed is he ) that come from the hand of God are conditional, that is, you have to follow certain conditions in order to be blessed. Psalm 1:1 says: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful . Note the conditions for being blessed: * Avoiding the counsel of the ungodly ( that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly - Psa 1:1) * Avoiding the old crowd ( nor standeth in the way of sinners - Psa 1:1) * Avoiding critical and negative comments concerning others ( nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful - Psa 1:1) * Taking God’s Word over our own ( blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed - Jn 20:29) * Focusing upon the Word of God, not the ways of God ( blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me - Lk 7:23 and Isa 55:8-11) 7:28 a “Greatness” in the eyes of God is different than greatness in the eyes of men (See MATTHEW “ MINI ” SERIES ). 7:28 b Despite what some of our Christian friends would have us believe, John the Baptist wasn’t “ Baptist .” There were no Baptists or Baptist denominations 2,000 years ago. NOTE - Though John was considered by Jesus to be one of the greatest men born of women, sadly, there are some within Christendom today that would think twice about having him come and speak for them. Why? Because of his long hair (he was a Nazarite – Num 6), his beard, and his ill-clad dress wouldn’t have fit into their “standards.” The only thing in common John the Baptist would have had with some of our Christian friends today is the message that he preached concerning Jesus and salvation. Unity, despite our diversity, is all that is needed to accomplish the Great Commission (Mt 28:18-20). Dr. John R. Rice in The Rice Reference Bible notes: We ought to thank God every time someone preaches the gospel and tries to lead people to Christ. Perhaps a preacher preachers the gospel, but stresses speaking in tongues, or sinless perfection, or another doctrine with which you cannot agree. If he preaches the gospel, praise the Lord and rejoice. When John answered and said, ‘Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbade him, because he followeth not us’ (Lk 9:49,50), then Jesus replied, ‘Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.’ Thank God for every man who tries to honor Christ and who tries to preach the Word. We ought to want all honest preachers of the gospel to prosper and be blessed, even though they may not meet our standards. 2 (See - Luke 9:50 and Phil 1:18 ) 7:28c The reason the “ least ” in heaven (the kingdom of God) will be greater than John (the greatest on earth) is because the “ least ” in heaven do not possess old natures like the greatest on earth. 1636

1 Edwards, Gene. The Prisoner in the Third Cell , Wheaton, IL, Tyndale House Publishers. 1991. Print. 2 Rice, John R. Rice Reference Bible , Nashville, TN, Thomas Nelson Pub. 1981. Print.